Trotz.com

No, not the real SuperBowl - I’m talking fantasy here! For the first time since ever, my sad little fantasy football team has not only made it into the postseason but won last week’s semifinal (sorry Firf) to contend for the title of the Leroy the Hoard Fantasy Football League. It’s a pretty competitive field - mostly sports writers and current or ex- SI.com folks who tend to know a great deal more about the ins and outs of the NFL than yours truly. But in keeping with the league’s namesake, I have persevered over the years to never really distinguish myself. My opponent, the illustrious Cadaver Dogs (9-5, 4th seed) are off against my JoeBob’s Bombers (9-5, 3rd seed). The Bombers have owned their division rival in the regular season (6-2 in the modern era) including a week 14 win to claim the Rosey Potts division title and relegate the Dogs to the Wild Card play-in game. But the Cadaver Dogs hold the edge where it counts - 1-0 head-to-head in playoffs and 1-0 in league crowns. Hopefully, this year will be different. Here are the lineups:

Tags: Sports, Uncategorized

Tonight, our ads team participated in the launch of PGATour.com. The site moved over from CBS Sportsline where it had been hosted for a number of years, and moved to our DoubleClick Dart Enterprise system here at Turner. And our group absolutely rocked! Despite another year of working through the holiday week, and a few more tasks through New Years Day, spirits were high throughout. Click here to view a gallery of pics from our war room. Here’s to more golf in our future…

Tags: advertising, golf

As a quick getaway before I had to turn my attention back to work for the final week of the year and our launch of PGATour.com, Amy, Sam and I packed up and headed to Sarasota with my new Canon 5D camera, their latest model which features full-frame imaging. More on why that’s important (to a photo geek like me anyway) after the jump. Sadly, soon after our arrival on Thursday last week we learned that Sherrie’s mom had passed away overnight, just a day after she and Marty had visited her in Tamarac on the East Coast. I think it helped everyone to be together when the news came, and most of the family will be traveling to Long Island for the funeral this Friday. Despite that bad news, the Handelmans, Sagans and Trotz families (Sam pictured above with Mason (left) and Austin) had a great time in the pool, on the green and in & around Sarasota. Click here to see a gallery of photos shot with the new gear during the trip.

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Tags: Family, florida, Photography

Sad, but true. The Godfather of Soul, IronMan, the Hardest Working Man in Show Business, and arguably the most famous resident of the greater Augusta, Georgia area has passed on. The photo below is an old favorite by my friend Blake Madden taken at one of the annual Birthday Bashes from his days at the Chronicle. James was a regular fixture around town in the years I worked for the Augusta Chronicle, and we were forever covering his antics and benevolent activities, or running into him at some dive bar on Broad Street. I remember a story by one of the ‘old time’ shooters who told tales of tromping through the woods alone with James, their only company the shotgun in the Godfather’s hands shortly after his release from prison. I will always remember catching one of his legendary birthday bashes at the local Bell Auditorium (now named for James Brown, and the likely location of his ‘homecoming’ event this weekend) - where various grade-B celebs from around the world would join the crowd to groove to guest artists, and ultimately, several numbers by the still-amazing master himself - even in his late 60s. He could dance and sing like a man in his 20s, keeping pace with the likes of MC Hammer and others. From annual Toy and Turkey giveaways for the holidays, to the bizzarre story of his wife’s OD after plastic surgery, James Brown was certainly an entertaining figure - in all sense of the term. Watch this video of James at his best - sometime in the 60s where he belts out an amazing improvisational accompaniment to Maceo Parker’s sax solo. And visit the extensive coverage online by the Chronicle.

Tags: augusta, Music

Back in NYC for business this week. I obviously miss Amy and the little man tremendously, but do enjoy the chance to enjoy some good food here in the big apple. Headed to Jean Georges Vongerichten’s Spice Market last night with a vendor after a late meeting around 6:30pm. The place is in the recently-trendy Meat Packing District. Surprisingly, the hostess showed zero ‘tude and seated our party of three immediately, albeit in the slightly less posh downstairs.

I happened to think the design of the place was pretty spiffy - it really reminded me of an exhibit at the Peabody Essex Museum I saw a few years ago of a home moved there from China which dated back to 1800, and had been occupied for over 200 years, with the added bonus of good drinks and better food - and the prices are not unreasonable for a fun night out. And the food was great - including at least one dish I’ll remember for a long time to come. Read on after the jump for more about the food…
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Tags: Food, nyc

Every day Amy and I keep saying that we must catch up and report on Mr. Sam’s latest tricks. About two weeks ago, he floored us both by beginning to string words together into simple sentences. I realize that doesn’t sound earth shattering, but to hear him say ‘Pick me up’ or ‘More Cat Hat’ is both cute and amazing to his doting parent. He’s gone on to basically stop using his sign language over the last month. Sometimes it’s a game to ask him what he wants - followed by the cutest ‘ohhhh kaayyyy’ with a beautiful smile that spreads across his face. He’s also gone on to name all his favorite songs (esp. all the tracks on Philadelphia Chickens). And he has his own names for his favorite books - ‘Pants’ for a quirky British picture book about underpants, ‘Peak-book’ for his peek-a-boo baby book, and of course ‘Cat Hat’ for - well you get the idea. There are more miscellaneous photos of his cuteness from various moments in early December here.

At right, you can see Sam engaging in his latest fave activity - watching a cute Cat in the Hat game/animation I picked up at the Lenox Apple Store. In fact, every time he sees daddy with his MacBookPro, he inevitably asks for ‘Cat Hat!’

I must also report one unfortunate incident that probably bothered Dad more than Sam. As we often do, Amy put Sam in the shower with me on Sunday morning. I was rushed to get ready that afternoon to leave for NY, and absentmindedly set my razor on the shower bench. Normally, Sam doesn’t pay any attention to anything there, but in 5 seconds flat, he’d grabbed it while my back was turned and cut himself. He had never bled before, and it was obvious that he was both frightened and in some pain. It hurt so much to see it, and I of course felt responsible for it. Amy had of course planned ahead for this, and the Sesame Street Band-Aids came to the rescue, with Cookie Monster, Bert and Grover all there to comfort him. He kept repeating the words ‘boo-boo’ over and over again, even after he’d taken a nap. All is well now, although Sam’s first boo-boo will live with us all for a while.

Tags: sam

In what’s become an annual tradition, Stephen hosted the gang at his midtown condo for soup, cocktails and a round of ‘Dirty Santa.’ Sam joined the party, and hung in there with all the grownups until far past his bedtime. Click her for the photo gallery.

Tags: friends, sam

Sam has been saying Da-da for the longest time, but just wouldn’t give in to Mom. I felt like Voldemore “the one who shall not be named”. But this past weekend, Dec. 9 to be exact, Sammy decided to break down and say mommy. When he woke up the next morning, we heard a plaintive cry through the monitor, “mommy, mommy, mommy.” Oy!

Tags: sam

…But his dad didn’t so much. I was down with a nasty sinus infection and managed to lose my voice, but did enjoy disconnecting from the grid for a few days as we hung out in Savannah with my mom (who was recovering from a knee replacement, but is doing just fine now), Jerry, a friend of his visiting from out-of-town, as well as the lovable mascot of the clan, the ever-friendly Scarlett. Sam was initially a bit unsure of her, but warmed up to her obvious charms quickly. Click here for the full gallery of pictures from the trip.

Tags: Family, sam, savannah, Uncategorized